HEARTS are set to be the subject of a Scottish Football Association probe after the club's astonishing online outburst.

Tynecastle legend Gary Mackay is also considering legal action against the SPL side after he was implicated in Friday's remarkable rant.

Hearts, in a statement on their official website, launched a tirade against external influences - including "mafia" - they believe are having a damaging impact on the club.

Owner Vladimir Romanov has made a history of eccentric rants since becoming involved with the Edinburgh outfit in 2004 and the latest - attributed to 'the board of directors' - is sure to have been sanctioned by the Lithuanian businessman.

The Hearts statement said: "We've been fighting to shield the club from crooks, criminals and thieves. Stealing players, bad games, problems with the law - all of that on top of record SFA fines. Problems are just shifted to another level.

Each year we are forced to fight against these maniacs harder and harder

"Every year Hearts fights to be in the top three, but even last season in the last 12 games of the season it was almost like someone replaced the team with a different one. Whose fault is that? Players? Manager's? Or it is mafia.

"Each year we are forced to fight against these maniacs harder and harder." The statement was posted on the Hearts website shortly after an apology from defender Craig Thomson, who the club have controversially decided to stand by following an internal investigation. Thomson was last week put on the sex offenders' register for five years for "lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour".

Following the statement, Hearts are now poised to be punished by the SFA's new judicial panel after they confirmed they are likely to examine the outburst.

A SFA spokesman said: "We have noted the content of the statement." The judicial panel replaces the SFA's disciplinary committee and is expected to be operational in time for the start of the new season.

Romanov was already in line to be its first case study after labelling referees "slaves" when the club were fined a record £100,000 earlier this month for another poor season of on-field discipline.

It is the seventh successive term that Hearts have been sanctioned, even if the club intend to appeal the latest punishment. Several previous outbursts from Romanov have landed Hearts in disciplinary trouble and the Russian-born owner has more than once described the Scottish football authorities as "the mafia".

Meanwhile, Mackay - Hearts' record appearance holder after playing 737 games - is understood to be deeply unhappy at being attacked in Friday's statement. Mackay, who has been an occasional critic of Romanov's running of the club, is now considering his legal position. He has so far declined to comment.

On the field, Hearts have arrived in Italy for a week-long training camp at Il Ciocco in the Tuscan hills. Icelandic international defender Kari Arnason has joined on trial as manager Jim Jefferies targets a fifth summer signing. The centre back - an international team-mate of Eggert Jonsson - is a free agent after leaving cash-troubled Plymouth Argyle at the end of the campaign.

Jefferies said of the 28-year-old: "Eggert knows him and he comes well-recommended. The owner has been good enough to allow us to bring him over and we'll have a close look at him over the next seven days." Andy Webster was unable to fly to the continent due to illness, but is expected to meet up with the squad.